A Virginia woman is pursuing a $1.5 million lawsuit against Outback Steakhouse after slipping on a pile of mashed potatoes and falling face-first onto the floor, resulting in what she describes as serious and permanent injuries. The incident, detailed in a federal lawsuit reviewed by The Independent, occurred at an Outback location in Sterling, Virginia.
The Incident and Allegations
Tracy J. Renshaw, 56, claims that on May 14, 2023, while dining with her family, she got up to use the restroom and stepped on a slippery foreign substance, later identified as mashed potatoes, that was on the restaurant floor. The fall caused her to land face-first on the hard floor, leading to significant physical and emotional distress. According to the complaint, Outback failed to post any warning about the slippery condition, creating an unreasonably dangerous environment for patrons.
Renshaw argues that Outback breached its duty of ordinary care to ensure guest safety. The lawsuit states that she has suffered great pain, diminished earning capacity, and incurred substantial medical expenses, with ongoing costs anticipated. She is seeking $1.5 million in damages.
Outback's Response and Legal Defense
In its May 19 answer to the complaint, Outback denied the allegations, asserting that it had no duty to warn about the mashed potatoes, lacked notice of any defective condition, and that Renshaw's injuries were not as severe as claimed. The chain also invoked the doctrine of respondeat superior, which holds employers responsible for employee actions, but argued that it was not liable under the circumstances.
Notably, the Sterling location where the incident occurred has since permanently closed. Outback, which operates over 1,000 restaurants in 23 countries, did not respond to requests for comment. Renshaw's attorney also declined to provide further details about her injuries.
Previous Legal Challenges Against Outback
This is not the first time Outback has faced lawsuits over customer injuries. In December 2025, a Florida man sued after a toilet allegedly shattered while he was using it at an Ocala location, causing permanent scarring and loss of bodily function. In 2021, a South Carolina woman was awarded $315,000 after swallowing a metal bristle from a grill brush embedded in her chicken dish, requiring emergency surgery. Earlier incidents include a 2018 case where an Oregon man cracked two molars on broken plate pieces in his food, and another South Carolina lawsuit involving a shard of glass in a sweet potato.
Renshaw is demanding a jury trial to resolve her claims against the restaurant chain.
